A record 19 projects will bring live performances to regional Victorian communities in 2027, with successful applicants spanning children’s theatre, live music, contemporary circus, musical comedy and more.
The latest round of the Small Regional Presenters (SRP) program, supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, helps community groups, not-for-profit organisations and local governments present performances in their communities. The program also strengthens connections between presenters, creating opportunities to share experiences, knowledge and ideas with colleagues across the state.
Recipients include Surf Coast Writers Festival, which will present NextGen Voices, a literary panel featuring Young Adult authors, followed by a dedicated youth writing workshop. Also on the Surf Coast, The Sound Doctor will celebrate its tenth anniversary with 18 live contemporary music acts across four weekends at Anglesea Memorial Hall.
After delighting local audiences in 2026, Eildon Events will bring comedy duo David Cosma and Charles Jenkins back to the region to present their Songs for Halls show and host a songwriting workshop for local residents.
Riff Raff Producing will present a program of fun live performances for kids and families in Drysdale, while Ararat Live will engage musicians from across Victoria and Australia to present a series of live music performances for local Ararat audiences.
Toora Community Hall Committee will stage a performance of Of the Land on Which We Meet by First Nations-led contemporary circus company Na Djinang Circus with accompanying community workshops.
Minister for Creative Industries Vicki Ward said,
“We are the creative state – and Labor is making sure great shows and events reach every corner of it.”
“From comedy in Eildon to circus in Toora, more Victorians will enjoy great creative events right on their doorstep.”
Regional Arts Victoria CEO Jo Porter said,
“This program is one of the most satisfying things we work on at Regional Arts Victoria. I am thrilled to see such a variety of presenters step up to bring new experiences to their towns and congratulations to all the recipients.”
The Small Regional Presenters program is a Victorian Government program delivered by Regional Arts Victoria – the state’s peak body for regionally based creatives and creative organisations.
Successful recipients
Geelong Chamber Music Society Inc.
$5,600
Geelong Chamber Music Society 2027 Concert Series: ‘Five Fabulous Fridays’
Geelong Chamber Music Society (GCMS) will present a five-concert series from February to November 2027, featuring celebrated chamber music spanning the 17th to 21st centuries. Audiences can enjoy works by composers from across the globe, performed by acclaimed Australian and international artists and ensembles, including Slava Grigoryan, Andrea Lam, Melbourne Baroque Orchestra, Arcadia Winds and Ensemble Liaison. The series will showcase a diverse range of musical styles, instruments and traditions.
Ararat Live Inc.
$8,736
Annual Ararat Live Program for 2027
Ararat Live will present ten high-quality live music performances in 2027, bringing original music to local audiences and visitors, including a special celebration for NAIDOC Week in July. The program will showcase singer-songwriters and bands from across Victoria, interstate and internationally, spanning a diverse range of genres. Funding will also help Ararat Live strengthen its media presence, reach new audiences across the region and build its long-term sustainability.
The Sound Doctor
$12,000
2027 Contemporary Music Program – 10 years of musical excellence
The Sound Doctor will celebrate its tenth consecutive year in 2027, presenting 18 live contemporary music acts across four weekends at Anglesea Memorial Hall. Featuring touring artists from Victoria, interstate and overseas, the program will offer Surf Coast audiences a curated, high-quality live music experience beyond the traditional club and pub circuit. An all-ages co-presentation with Surf Coast Youth and the Amplify Music Program will also introduce a new generation of music fans to the excitement of live performance.
Surf Coast Writers Festival
$4,000
NextGen Voices: Emerging Writers Panel & Youth Workshop
NextGen Voices will bring a two-part literary program to the Surf Coast Writers Festival, celebrating emerging and young adult (YA) literature. A panel featuring Melbourne-based YA fantasy author Bonnie Tai, award-winning local YA author Miranda Luby and two debut authors will explore publishing and storytelling. The program will also include an interactive writing workshop co-facilitated by Bonnie and Miranda for young people aged 13–17. Up to 30 aspiring writers will have the opportunity to build creative confidence, explore character development and learn directly from professional authors.
Yando Public Hall
$4,980
Alive @ Yando
Yando Public Hall will host a unique afternoon of comedy, live music and community creativity, featuring special guests Damian Callinan and Rusty Berther. Participants can work with Rusty to create original song lyrics inspired by their local community, and take to the stage alongside Damian to deliver a joke. Celebrating local stories, laughter and connection, the interactive event will bring the community together through music and comedy.
Moyne Shire Council
$9,445
3282 Kickstart Koroit Theatre Program 2027
Moyne Shire Council, in partnership with the Koroit Theatre Community Asset Committee and Lighthouse Theatre Warrnambool, will present four live performances at the heritage-listed Koroit Theatre in 2027. The program aims to grow local audiences, strengthen the theatre’s operational capacity and deliver diverse, inclusive programming across music, film and theatre. It will also support improvements to the venue’s amenities and create a more welcoming, accessible space that is an active part of everyday life in Koroit. Mentoring partnerships with neighbouring venue programmers and regional arts organisations will further build local skills and capacity.
Ararat Interested Parties (AIP)
$7,649.90
Resonance Program
Ararat Interested Parties (AIP) will present Resonance, a program of interdisciplinary performances exploring sound, movement and experimental creative practice. The series will bring innovative work by leading artists from urban and regional south-eastern Australia to Ararat, giving local audiences access to new and diverse artistic experiences. Each performance will be accompanied by a hands-on workshop led by the touring artists, offering AIP members and community participants the opportunity to explore the ideas and techniques behind the work. The program will foster local creative practice and strengthen Ararat’s arts and cultural life.
Warragul Heritage Preservation Association (Wesley of Warragul)
$9,350
WOW 2027 Music Season: Building on Relationships/Building New Audiences
Warragul Heritage Preservation Association Inc will present a season of seven professional acoustic music performances at Wesley of Warragul in 2027, bringing the heritage-listed, community-owned arts venue to life. The program will nurture its established audience while welcoming new audiences from Warragul’s growing and increasingly diverse community, including young musicians and their families. The season will also create opportunities for skills development and foster cross-generational and cross-cultural connections through music.
Mount Alexander Shire Council
$4,888
Of the Land on Which We Meet by Na Djinang Circus
Bringing Creative Arts to Young Minds Across Indigo Shire, The ARTventurers Program brings high-quality creative experiences to primary school-aged children throughout Indigo Shire, making arts accessible to all young people in the community. Through performances held in local community halls, this program delivers engaging artistic experiences that spark imagination, build confidence, and develop creative skills. ARTventurers 2026 presents four diverse, high-quality professional performances across Indigo Shire’s most geographically isolated communities, reaching 600+ audience members. Each show has been carefully selected to align with the community’s needs and our commitment to providing equitable access to the arts.
King Valley Arts Inc.
$11,527
King Valley Arts Presents 2027 Season
King Valley Arts’ 2027 season will bring theatre productions, children’s theatre and workshops to community halls across the region. By presenting performances in familiar local venues, the program will bring people together, build community pride and strengthen connections. The season aims to spark conversation, encourage learning and provide high-quality entertainment close to home. Funding will help keep tickets affordable and ensure local audiences can continue to access arts experiences, particularly as declining attendance and rising costs put pressure on community events.
Riff Raff Producing Ltd
$13,219
Family Riff Raff: A Bellarine Family Performance Program
Recently returned to Australia and now based on the Bellarine, Riff Raff will present its first live family program in Drysdale, with a focus on creating inclusive experiences for neurodivergent children. Featuring Wacky Lolly Shooting Machine and Scott’s BMX Trick Bike Show, the program offers fun, accessible introductions to live performance for families who may have limited access to, or experience with, theatre. Drawing on decades of touring and community engagement experience, the Riff Raff team aims to connect more regional families with high-quality live performance.
Bass Coast Shire Council
$11,232
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat – presented by iOpera
Bass Coast Shire Council will present The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Melbourne-based independent opera company iOpera at Berninneit in Cowes in June 2027. Based on Oliver Sacks’ renowned neurological case study and composed by Michael Nyman, the production blends opera, theatre and chamber music to explore perception, identity and human connection. The performance will bring an ambitious, high-quality touring production to Bass Coast audiences, expanding access to diverse performing arts experiences in regional Victoria.
Eildon Events Inc.
$3,800
Songs for Halls
Eildon Events Inc, in partnership with Eildon Bowls Club, will bring Songs for Halls back to Eildon in 2027, featuring David Cosma and Charles Jenkins. Following a successful 2026 performance that delighted local audiences, the award-winning artists will return with their lively blend of musical comedy, storytelling and Australiana. The program will also include a songwriting workshop for local residents, creating opportunities for community members to explore their own creativity and connect with the performers.
The Gumboot Collective
$7,000
No Safe Harbours: Writing the Future of a Climate-Changed World
This panel will bring together four emerging and established Australian authors writing climate fiction to explore how literature is responding to a changing world. Against a backdrop of devastating floods and increasingly severe fire seasons, panellists will discuss the creative and ethical challenges of imagining a future shaped by climate change. They’ll share their motivations for writing climate fiction, from sounding a warning to exploring hope and demanding climate justice, and reflect on how the genre has shaped their careers and where it might go next.
Toora Community Hall Committee
$10,700
Mount Alexander Shire Council
$4,888
Of the Land on Which We Meet by Na Djinang Circus
Toora Community Hall Committee will present Na Djinang Circus’s Of the Land on Which We Meet in October 2027, bringing high-quality, First Nations-led contemporary circus to the local community. Blending physical performance, storytelling and text, the work explores contemporary Australian identity. The program will include a public performance, a post-show artist Q&A and at least two community workshops, developed in consultation with local partners. The project will expand access to diverse professional performing arts in Toora, while building the Hall’s presenting skills and strengthening local connections.
Foster War Memorial Arts Centre
$16,750
Do It Deadly!
Doing It Deadly! will bring First Nations and the wider community together in Foster for a vibrant celebration of culture and connection to Country. Featuring live music, dance, food, art, storytelling and language, the event will create a welcoming space for sharing knowledge, experiences and cultural pride across generations. Foster War Memorial Arts Centre and Foster Secondary College will open their doors to the community for an evening of performances, artists and ceremony, celebrating First Nations cultures and strengthening connections between local youth, Elders and the broader community.
Poowong Public Hall Inc
$3,850
Eat, Pray, Walk by Marcus Ryan
Poowong Public Hall in April 2027. Located in a small South Gippsland dairy community with limited access to professional touring performances, the beautifully preserved Art Deco hall provides an important local gathering place. This engaging and relatable performance will bring live theatre closer to home, encourage social connection, attract audiences from surrounding districts and strengthen the hall’s role as a vibrant regional arts venue.
Warrnambool Community Garden
$16,750
By a Thread: circus, connection and community in the quarry amphitheatre
One Fell Swoop Circus will bring its mesmerising contemporary circus performance By A Thread to the Garden’s reclaimed quarry amphitheatre. Featuring seven acrobats and 30 metres of rope, the production explores trust, risk, playfulness, friendship and connection through breathtaking physical performance. The presentation will build on the quarry’s emergence as a unique regional performance venue, giving local audiences access to high-quality Australian circus. Workshops, artist engagement and local support performances will extend the experience, encouraging community participation, growing audiences and strengthening the Garden’s long-term capacity to present live performances.
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